Kankakee Community College Celebrates 55th Graduation Ceremony, Honoring Local Achievers and Veterans

Kankakee Community College (KCC) will hold its 55th annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. The event is scheduled in the George H. Ryan Gymnasium at the college's Activities Building. This year, the college will award nearly 450 degrees and certificates to graduates.

The commencement speaker, Fawn Hendershott, graduated from KCC in 2012. She is the executive director of UpliftedCare, a non-profit organization focused on care for those with serious illnesses. Hendershott has previously worked as a nurse case manager, CNA supervisor, and clinical staff educator.

The ceremony will also recognize Allie Kohl and Connor O’Malley as members of the All-Illinois Academic Team for their outstanding academic achievements and community contributions. Kohl plans to transfer to Olivet Nazarene University, and O’Malley intends to continue his studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Two professors, Clay Sterling and Randy Gerdes, will receive the KCC Outstanding Faculty Member Awards for 2024. Sterling is part of the Electrical Engineering Technology Program, and Gerdes teaches in the Emergency Medical Technical program.

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